Multi-layered cylinder head seal

ABSTRACT

Multi-layered cylinder head seal, with a spacing layer that has openings corresponding to the number of combustion chambers taking cylinder bushings in a combustion engine, in the area which a combustion chamber edging containing a soft iron ring is located, and in the edge areas at least partially limiting elements are provided, where the spacing layer is in functional contact with layers that have several selectable distances from both the associated combustion chamber edging as well as the associated limiting element and that are provided with sumps.

DESCRIPTION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of German Patent ApplicationNo. 102 44 853.1, filed Sep. 26, 2002.

[0002] The invention consists of a multi-layered cylinder head seal,which has a several openings in it, the number corresponding to thenumber of combustion chambers in a combustion engine.

[0003] A multi-layered cylinder head seal with openings corresponding toa number of combustion chambers in a combustion engine, and with acombustion chamber edging aligned with the opening, is to be extractedfrom the DE-A 199 51 530, where the combustion chamber edging includesat least one functional layer of the cylinder head seal, and a full sumpof the functional layer is aligned within the combustion chamber edging.The cylinder head seal has a support that is aligned separately from thecombustion chamber edging, where the support with the cylinder headseal, detached from the combustion chamber edging, is connected with atleast one other layer of the cylinder head seal.

[0004] A cylinder head seal can be extracted from JP-U 59-1850 that,among other things, also includes a combustion chamber edging in thearea of a cylinder bushing provided on the combustion chamber side.

[0005] In a similar manner, JP-U 59-64453 describes a multi-layeredcylinder head seal that is also provided with a combustion chamberedging on the combustion chamber side.

[0006] For combustion engines with different heights of bushingprotrusion, driven by tolerances, the multi-layered steel cylinder headseals that are typically used, which have a full sump for dynamic gassealing, cannot always be used.

[0007] The full sumps are also not able, when the number of functionallayers is increased, to compensate for the sometimes very greattolerances from bushing to bushing, in order to build up sufficient linepress for gas sealing. Furthermore, due to the high bushing protrusiontolerances, bending and deformation of the functional layers can occur,which has a negative influence on the gas and media sealing, and leadsto tears and fractures in the layer.

[0008] Also generally known are steel-elastomer cylinder head seals,with a combustion chamber edging for gas sealing and with elastomerbeads for media sealing. Here, however, depending on the operatingcondition of the motor (temperature, shifting movements, partstretching) damage to the elastomer beads can occur. Elastomer beadsare, as a rule, very sensitive to outside influences.

[0009] The invention addresses the task of preparing a cylinder headseal for combustion engines with tolerance-driven variable cylinderbushing protrusion, which also provides secure gas sealing for thesecombustion engines, but simultaneously has good oil and coolant sealingof the sumps.

[0010] This task is solved by a multi-layered cylinder head seal with aspacing layer that has in it a number of openings corresponding to thenumber of combustion chambers taking cylinder bushings in a combustionengine, in the area of which a combustion chamber edging containing asoft iron ring is positioned, and in the edge areas, at least partiallimiting elements are provided, where the spacing layer is in effectivecontact with several selectable stand-offs with functional layers thathave sumps for combustion chamber edging as well as for the associatedlimiting element.

[0011] Advantageous extensions of the object of the invention are to betaken from the subclaims.

[0012] With the object of the invention it is possible to seal on thegas side even combustion engines with cylinder bushings of differingprotrusion heights well and with a long life. The combustion chamberedging is joined with the soft iron ring all around the spacing layer.This sets a gap specifically for the engine. The combustion chamberedging can thus move freely and is disconnected from the spacing layerwith the functional layers provided on it. The functional layers withthe half sumps are firmly connected to the spacing layer. The forcebalance is set by the associated number of functional layers providedwith half sumps, and the thickness of the limiting elements (limiters),which are installed on the outer edges of the cylinder head seal. Thenecessary force balance is determined here by the bushing protrusiontolerances in each case.

[0013] The object of the invention is shown in the drawing using anexample application, and is described as follows. Shown are:

[0014]FIG. 1 Principle sketch of a cylinder head seal

[0015]FIG. 2 Cross section of the cylinder head seal per FIG. 1

[0016]FIG. 1 shows, as a principle sketch, a cylinder head seal 1, whichis provided with several openings 2 that are directed toward the latercombustion chamber. In the area of the openings 2, combustion chamberedgings 3 are located. Further, clearance holes 4 are provided thatserve to mount attachment elements. Additional clearance holes can beprovided for carrying fluid media in the area of cylinder head seal 1.In the edge areas 1′, 1″ of the cylinder head seal 1, limiting elements(limiters) 5 are positioned.

[0017]FIG. 2 shows a cross section through a cylinder head seal 1 alongthe line A-A. The cylinder head seal 1 is, in this example, constructedof a spacing layer 6 made of sheet metal, as well as four functionallayers 7, 8, 9, 10, that are also made of sheet metal. The functionallayers 7 to 10 are equipped with half sumps 11, 12, 13, 14. In the areaof the openings 2, the spacing layer 6 is surrounded by a combustionchamber edging 3 consisting of two sheet metal elements 15, 16, wherethe inner sheet metal element 16 is in functional contact with a softiron ring 17. Through this measure, a gap is set specifically for theengine. In the outer edge area 1″ of the spacing layer 6, a limitingelement 5 is provided. The functional layers 7 to 10 are connected withselectably defined distances to the limiting element 5 on one side, andto the combustion chamber edging 3 on the other, with the spacing layer6 (not shown). The combustion chamber edging 3 is joined to the softiron ring 17 all around the spacing layer 6, whereby the gap setspecifically for the engine is adjusted. The combustion chamber edging 3can thus move freely, and is disconnected from the spacing layer 6 aswell as from the functional layers 7 to 10. The combustion chamberedging 3 created by the sheet metal elements 15, 16 ensures a good gasseal, even for combustion engines with cylinder bushings of varyingheight, while the functional layers 7 to 10 carrying half sumps 11 to 14serve to seal out media in the area of the contact surface. The forcebalance hereby is set by the associated number of functional layers 7 to10 and the thickness of the limiting element 5 (limiter).

1. Multi-layered cylinder head seal with a spacing layer (6) that hasopenings (2) corresponding to the number of combustion chambers takingcylinder bushings in a combustion engine, in the area of which acombustion chamber edging (3, 15, 16) containing a soft iron ring (17)is located, and in the edge areas (1, 1′, 1″) at least partiallylimiting elements (5) are provided, where the spacing layer (6) is infunctional contact with functional layers (7, 8, 9 10) that have severalselectable distances from both the associated combustion chamber edging(3, 15, 16) as well as the associated limiting element (5) and that areprovided with sumps (11, 12, 13, 14).
 2. Cylinder head seal per claim 1,characterized in that the functional layers (7, 8, 9, 10) are providedwith half sumps (11, 12, 13, 14).
 3. Cylinder head seal per claim 1 or2, characterized in that at least one functional layer (7, 8, or 9, 10)is positioned in the area of each frontal surface of the spacing layer(6),
 4. Cylinder head seal per one of the claims 1 to 3, characterizedin that two functional layers (7, 8 or 9, 10) are positioned in the areaof each frontal surface of the spacing layer (6), whose half sumps (11,12, 13, 14) are provided in selectable areas touching each other, and inother selectable areas at a distance from each other.
 5. Cylinder headseal per one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the half sumps(11, 12, 13, 14) are made open toward to the limiting elements (5). 6.Cylinder head seal per one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in thatthe associated combustion chamber edging (3) is made of two sheet metalelements (15, 16), where the inner sheet metal element (16) accepts thesoft iron ring (17) and both sheet metal elements (15, 16) are joinedall around the spacing layer (6).
 7. Cylinder head seal per one of theclaims 1 to 6, characterized in that the combustion edging (3, 15, 16)is movable relative to the spacing layer (6) and is provided decoupledfrom both the spacing layer (6) as well as the functional layers (7, 8,9, 10) in the area of each opening(2).
 8. Cylinder head seal per one ofthe claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the functional layers (7, 8, 9,10) are firmly connected to the spacing layer (6).